Reagent feeder



June 24, 1930. J. F. GEARY REAGENT FEEDER 2 she bsfsheet 14 Filed Dec.l, 1925 `lune 24, 1930. J, F, GEARY 1,766,625

REAGENT FEEDER Filed Dec. ll 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 24, i939JAMES F. GEABY, F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH REAGENT 'FEEDER Application filedDecember 1, 1925. Serial No. 72,595.

.ine present invention relates to reagent below the level of iiuid inthe tank, as shown feeders and more particularly to feeders for in thedotted line position of Fig. 2, and is ilelivering predeterminedquantities of rethen raised, the bucket being guided by the agents atregular intervals. tracks 14. As it nears the top of its stroke,

L; The principal object of the present inventhe stud 24 in following thecurved portion 55 tion is to provide reagent feeder which is of thetrack causes the bucket to be tipped adapted to deliver accuratelydetermined into the position shown in full lines, to permit quantitiesof one or more reagents and which the iiow of its contents into thespout 20, from may be readily adjusted to vary the rates or which theyare directed into a funnel 32 to be amounts of delivery of the variousreagents conveyed to the desired point. 60 separately or with relationto one another. Reciprocating motion is imparted to the .,Vith this andother objects in view, as will bucket support 28 by means of a pitman 34hereinafter appear, the present invention con pivotally connected at 86to the bucket supin the reagent feeder hereinafter deport and connectedat its upper end with a scribed and particularly defined in the claims.crank disk 38 at the periphery of the latter. 65 lin the accompanyingdrawings, Figure lis he length of the pitman may be adjusted a frontelevation of reagent feeder embodyby a turn-buckle 40. The crank diskassociing the features of the present invention; and ated with each tankis supported on a stud 42 Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of theapparajournaled in a bearing 44, vand is urged by shown in Fig. 1. acoil spring` 46 against a rotating friction 70 The illustratedembodiment of the invendriving disk 50. Each crank disk 38 is protionconsists of a reagent feeder comprising vided with a counterweight 52opposite the a plurality of tanks 4 from which predeterpitmanconnection. The various driving mined quantities of reagents aredelivered by disks 50 associated with the different feeders means ofreciprocating buckets indicated genare splined on a driving shaft 58which is erally The tanks are supported in a journaled in bearings 54and 56 and is rotated 'framework 8 mounted on a concrete foundaby amotor 58 through a worin drive. `The tion 10. The level of liquid ineach tank is shaft 53 may be supported at points intermeniaintaincdconstant by means of a float 12 diate its ends by pillow blocks 59. Eachdriveo connected. with any suitable form of valve ing disk 50 hassecured to it a grooved disk 60 8U mechanism. Secured to the frameworkare a within which is received a yoke 62, the yoke plurality of bucketguides 14, one of which being retained in any adjusted position by aentends into each tank. Each guide includes connection with a rod 64which extends pair of tracks 16 vertically disposed within through thebearing block 44 and which is 25 and extending slightly above the top ofthe held in place by a set screw 66. By this means 55 tank and curved at1'? into a horizontal porany or all of the driving disks may be movedtion 18 directly above a spout 2O within which to any adjusted positionwith relation to the the contents are to be discharged. rlhe bucketcrank disks 88 to drive the latter at any de- G is provided with anintegral ear 22 to resired speed. The speeds may be adjusted Ceive astu-fl 24, which is received between the relatively to one anotherwithout stopping the pair of tracks 16. Above the stud 24 the operationof the feeder so that the amounts bucket is provided with an extendedlip 26 of reagents delivered by the various buckets over which thecontents pass in being dismaybe proportioned by controlling therapidcharged into the spout 20. The bucket is pivity of the dumping soas to give the correct otally mounted on a support 28 which is mixtureof reagents desired to be used in the 95 adapted to slide freely over arod 30 eXtendreaction. ing into the tank and secured between the Theadjustment provided by the turnbottom of the `guide member 14 and a partof buckle 40 on each pitman determines the the framework. Upon verticalreciprocation amount of upward movement of the bucket of the support 28the bucket is first submerged to dumping position. Thus by extending theico length of the pitman the bucket will be lifted to a less height andtherefore the tipping of the bucket will be less, because the stud Q4will not have advanced so far around the curve 1T in the track 16. Bythis means the amount delivered by each dump may be controlled, toeffect a further control of the proportion of the delivery of eachreagent.

The formation of the bucket is such that an accurate quantity of reagentis delivered at each dumping operation to the spout 20. Provision ismade for preventing entrance of liquid into the spout except from theinterior of the bucket, thus eliminatingr inaccuracy due to dripping ofliquid from the exterior of the bucket. The ear 22, which is formedintegral with the bucket, and the stud 24, which extends across thebucket directly below the lip, serve to catch any drops of liquid Whichtend to flow down the exterior side walls of the bucket and direct themback into the tank. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper extremity ofthe lip when the bucket is in tilted position lies directly above theinner edge of the spout 20, so that all drippings from the bucket tendto drop outside the spout and the spout receives only the contents ofthe interior of the bucket. The curvature of the track at 1T issubstantially on a radius, of which the upper interior extremity of thespoilt :'20 is the center, so that this condition obtains for any finalposition of the spout independent of the adjustment of the length ofthepitman 34.

It will be observed that the positive reciprocating movement imparted toeach bucket by its corresponding pitman provides not only for a positivesubmergence of the bucket but also for an accurate lifting of the bucketthrough an accurately predetermined stroke. The amounts of the variousreagents discharged may be regulated by adjusting the lengths of thepitmen and speeds ot' the crank disks. the former adjustment serving toregulate the quantity of each dump, and the latter to vary the intervalbetween successive dumps. Accordingly, an accurate feed of predeterminedrelative quantities of the different reagents at regular timed intervalsis assured.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A reagent feeder comprising a plurality of veltically reciprocatingbuckets each adapted to feed a portion of the contents from a tank,means for tipping each bucket as it approaches the top of its stroke,i'neans for reciprocating each bucket through a predetermined stroke,and means for relatively varying the speeds of the different bucketswith respect to one another.

2. A reagent feeder comprising a plurality of tanks, a bucket for eachtank adapted to convey a portion of the contents from its correspondingtank, means for tipping each bucket as it approaches the top of itsstroke. means for reciprocating the buckets in timed relation to eachother, and means for relatively varying the strokes of the buckets tovary the amount of tipping and the relative discharge of their contents.

3. A reagent feeder comprising a plurality of tanks, a bucket for eachtank, means for vertically reciprocating the buckets in timed relationto one another` means for tipping each bucket at the top of its stroke,and means for varying the relative positions of the various buckets withrespect to one another.

iJf. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket, a support on whichthe bucket is pivotally mounted, means for reciprocating the bucketcomprising a crank and a. pitman connecting the crank with the bucket,and adjustable means for rotating the crank at various speeds.

5. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket, a support on which thebucket is pivotally mounted, means for reciprocating the bucketcomprising a crank and a pitman con` necting the cran with the bucket,and adjustable means for rotating the crank at various speeds, a guidefor the bucket having provision for tipping it as it approaches the fopot its stroln, and means for adjusting the length of the pitman to varythe amount of tipping of the bucket.

A reagent feeder' comprising a plurality of tanks, a4 bucket associatedwith each tank, a support for each bucket, a guide for each buckethaving provision for tipping the bucket as it approaches the top of itsstroke, means for reciprocating each bucket coinprising a plurality ofcranks and pitmen connecting the cranks with the buckets, a rotatableshaft, means for driving the cranks from the shaft, and means forrelatively adjusting the speeds of the various cranks.

7. A reagent feeder comprising a plurality of tanks, a verticallyreciprocating bucket associated with each tank for conveying therefrom aportion of its contents, a rotatable shaft, a friction disk for eachbucket having a crank, a pitman connecting the crank with the bucket,and a rotatable shaft, friction means on the shaft for driving thefriction disks, and means for adjustim'r the friction means to vary thetiming of the buckets and to vary the speeds at which the buckets arereciprocated.

8. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket guide extending into thetank, a bucket having an extended lip and a stud engaging with the guideand disposed below the lip, means for reciprocating and tipping thebucket, a spout directly under the bucket when the latter is in tippedposition, the stud serving to catch drippings from the exterior of thebucket and return them into the tank to prevent passage thereof into thespout.

9. A. reagent feeder` comprising a tank, a bucket, a guide for thebucket havin@4 provision for tipping the bucket at the top of itsstroke, means for reciprocating the bucket through a predeterminedstroke, means for adjusting the stroke to adjust the discharge of thebucket, and means for varying the speed of movement of the bucket.

10. fr reagent feeder comprising a plurality of tanks, a bucket for eachtank, means for reciprocating each bucket through a predetermined strokeand for tipping each bucket at the top of its stroke, means forrelatively varying the strokes of the various buckets to adjust theirdischarges with respect to one another, and means for relativelyvarying' the speeds of the buckets.

l1. ifi reagent feed r comprising a tank, vertically reciprocatingbucket adapted to dip into the tank, a guide for the bucket havingprovision for tipping the bucket at the top of its stroke, means forreciprocating` the bucket consisting of a re .iprocating member movablethrough a stroke of Yunvarying length, and means for controlling thedischarge of the bucket by varying the height to which the bucket islifted independently of the length of the stroke of the reciprocatingarm.

12. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a spout, a ve ticallyreciprocating bucket adapted convey a portion of the contents of thetank to the spout, a guide for the bucket` having provision for tippingthe bucket as it approaches the top of its stroke, means forreciprocating the bucket through a stroke of unvarying length, and meansfor adjusting the height to which the bucket is lifted independently ofthe length of the strol c to vary the amount of tipping of the bucket.

13. )i reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket having an extendedlip, a spout, means for reciprocating and tipping the bucket forconveying a portion of the contents of the tank to the spout, the spoutbeing directly under the extended lip of the bucket and havingitsrearward external surface substantiallj in vertical register with thelower external surface of the end of the lip when the bucket is in itstipped position whereby the spout will catch no drippings from theexterior of the bucket.

lil. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket, means forreciprocating and tipping the bucket, and a spout to receive thecontents of the bucket, the bucket having a projection on that side ofthe bucket which is lowermost when the bucket is tipped to discharge itscontents and adjacent the open enc., the the projection being offsetvertically from the spout when the bucket is so tipped to cause thedrippings from the exterior of the bucket to fall outside the spout.

15. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket, power actuating meanshaving a uniform range of movement for causing the bucket to dip intothe tank and to be raised therefrom, normally stationary devices forcausing the buc ret to tip while being raised, and mechanism for varyingthe relative positions of the bucket and said normally stationarydevices to vary the tipping of the bucket to control the discharge ofthe contents thereof while maintaining uniform range of movement of thebucket.

16. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket, a crank, connectionsbetween the bucket and crank imparting a reciprocatory motion of uniformrange to the bucket to cause it to convey material from the tank,normally stationary devices for tipping the bucket near the top of itsstroke, and means for varying the relative positions of the bucket andsaid normally stationary devices to vary the tipping of the bucket tocontrol the discharge of the contents thereof while maintaining uniformrange of movement of the bucket.

17. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a vertically reciprocatingbucket, stationary means engaged by the bucket for tipping the same atthe top of its stroke, mechanism for reciprocating` the bucket includinga continuously rotating member driven at uniform speed, and connectionsbetween said member and the bucket for reciprocating the bucket,constructed and arranged to impart a slow tipping movement to the bucketwith a dwell when the bucket is at the limit of its tipping movement.

18. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket, a continuouslyrotating member driven at uniform speed, connections between said memberand the bucket for vertically reciprocating the bucket, normallystationary devices engaged by the bucket for tipping the same at the topof its stroke, the connections being constructed and arranged to imparta slow tipping m( vement to the bucket with a dwell when the bucket isat the limit of its tipping move ment, and mechanism for varying therelative positions of the bucket and said normally stationary devices tovary the degree of tipping of the bucket to control the discharge of thecontents thereof.

19. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket, a rotatable crank, apitman connecting the crank and the bucket for vertically reciprocatingthe latter, the bucket being at the limit of its vertical movements whenthe crank is passing dead centers, and a guide for the bucket havingprovision yfor tipping the bucket as the crank approaches a dead centerand the bucket approaches the top of its stroke, said pitman havingmeans for varying the amount of discharge from the bucket.

20. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket, a. rotatable crank, a.pitman connecting the crank and the bucket for vertically reciprocatingthe latter', t-he bucket being at the limit of its vertical movementswhen the crank is passing dead centers, a guide for the bucket havingprovision for tipping the bucket as the crank approaches a dead centerand the bucket approaches the top of its stroke, and means for adjustingthe length of the pitman to vary the amount of tipping of the bucket.

21. A reagent feeder comprising a tank, a bucket, a support on which thebucket is pivotally mounted, a crank, a pitman connecting the crank withthe bucket for reciprocating the bucket, the bucket beingl at the limitof its vertical movements when the crank is passing dead centers, aguide for the bucket having provision for the tipping of the bucket asthe tank approaches a dead center and the bucket approaches the top ofits stroke, and means for changing the vertical position of the bucketat dead center position of the crank to vary the amount of tipping ofthe bucket and of the discharge of its contents.

22. A reagent feeder comprising a plurality of tanks adapted to containvarious reagents, a reciprocating bucket for each tank for conveying anddischarging predetermined quantities therefrom, a driving shaft, andmeans driven from said shaft for actuating each bucket, said meanshaving provision for adjustment to independently vary the quantity ofreagent discharged by each bucket in a given period of time.

23. A reagent feeder comprising a plurality of tanks adapted to containvarious reagents, a reciprocating bucket for each tank for conveying anddischarging predetermined quantities therefrom, a driving shaft,actuating mechanism for each bucket` and adjustable connections betweensaid shaft and said mechanisms to independently vary the speed ofoperation of said mechanisms.

24. A reagent feeder comprising a plurality of tanks adapted to containvarious reagents, a reciprocating bucket for each tank for conveying anddischarging predetermined quantitics therefrom, a driving shaft, andactuating mechanism at each bucket, said mechanism having provision forindependently varying the amount discharged from each bucket on eachactuation thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES F. GEARY.

